Desert Gift Read Online Free Page B

Desert Gift
Book: Desert Gift Read Online Free
Author: Sally John
Tags: Fiction - General, FICTION / Christian / General
Pages:
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By the time they got around to packing, he was silly tired and in the mood to begin his long-overdue vacation. They’d never taken off for an entire five weeks. Well, technically they still weren’t, but Jill’s business wouldn’t be 24-7. They would have all kinds of pockets of time for relaxing.
    Like right now, this morning. This was to be one of those moments to simply hang together, completely uninterrupted.
    Gretchen was independent to a fault as well as a workaholic. She would use these times to be on the phone, probably booking more ugly hotels for other clients, not poking her busybody self into their downtimes. She wasn’t on vacation. The Galloways were. She understood that because she was Jill’s best friend.
    Best girlfriend. Jack was her best friend.
    Right?
    Then how could she have missed the signs? Surely there had been signs! Midlife crises did not come without signs.
    No, there hadn’t been any. He was guileless, not at all good at being dishonest. His hazel eyes still sparkled and the laugh creases around his mouth still deepened every time he smiled at her. He was as gentle as ever. If anything, she had been the one to pretend everything was hunky-dory in recent months while she focused more than ever on work.
    “Jack.” She had sat down on the bed and rolled up his socks as she talked. “I haven’t really said how much this trip means to me.”
    “It’s your time to shine, Jillie. First book published. Adoring listeners eager to meet you and become adoring readers. A speaking tour in your home state. I’d say you’ve arrived.”
    “That’s not what I mean. I’m beyond words grateful for all that, but—”
    “Beyond words?” He winked. “Really?”
    Yes, he had teased her. Just the night before last.
    She smiled. “No, I mean I’ve been too preoccupied with this whole book business. I’ve let things slide at home. With Connor. I haven’t e-mailed him in over two weeks. But mostly I’ve let things slide with you. With us.”
    “Understandable. It was a huge project.”
    “Well, I’m sorry anyway. And I am happy beyond words that we’re taking a vacation.”
    “Beyond words again?” He sat on the bed and put his arms around her.
    Jill imagined his hug now. The rough wool of his favorite old sweater against her cheek. The ever-present faint scent of soap emanating from the doctor obsessed with cleanliness. The slight shudder, as if a chill went through him. The quick release as he stood.
    “I’ll go down and get the coffee ready.” And he was out the door.
    To prepare the coffeemaker as he did every evening, as he had already done an hour before.
    That shudder was not her imagination. And the tease after her outpouring? She heard now as if with new ears how he had deflected, turning the topic from their relationship, and how she’d let it slide to her work and coffee.
    Had he known then that he wasn’t going on the trip? that his packing was all for show in order to zing her in the morning?
    No. The man without guile did not suddenly develop the art of being devious.
    She had to go home. Her so-called time to shine was falling into a black hole.

Chapter 4
    Chicago
    Saturday morning Jack pulled his ringing cell from his overcoat pocket and checked the incoming caller ID.
    Gretchen, twenty-four hours later than he had predicted.
    He let the phone ring as he finished pouring coffee into a travel mug and thought about ignoring it. His heart carried enough of a load, full of Connor. He needed to talk to his son, but he had no idea how to tell him long-distance about a decision he couldn’t understand himself.
    He glanced at the phone again. Gretchen was with his wife. But still . . .
    The woman typified the old spinster aunt who figured she was entitled to meddle in the lives of her extended family. Although not old nor a spinster nor even related, she fit the bill, always dispensing advice that no one sought. Generally speaking, he liked his wife’s best friend. The

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